title: Chronic hepatitis C: T-helper1/T-helper2 imbalance could cause virus persistence in peripheral blood.
abstract: Interferon gamma (IFN gamma) and interleukin 4, 10 and 12 (IL-4, -10, -12) production was measured in whole peripheral blood (WPB) and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of 10 chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients. The level of IFN gamma in supernatants in mitogen-activated WPB was lower than in healthy donors. IL-10 served as a possible downregulative factor for IFN gamma, since its spontaneous IL-10 production was enhanced in CHC. Neutralization of IL-10 partly restored IFN gamma response in CHC patients. Recombinant IL-12 (rIL-12) also enhanced IFN gamma of CHC patients, but IL-12 production was decreased in CHC. Thus, IFN gamma production deficiency in CHC patients is secondary to blockage by high levels of IL-10-impaired IL-12 production.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Immunology, Latvian Medical Academy, Riga, Latvia.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Osna
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Silonova
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Vilgert
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hagina
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kuse
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Giedraitis
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zvirbliene
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mauricas
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sochnev
mesh_terms: D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000097:blood; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000378:metabolism; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology*; D014766:Viremia
chemical_list: D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D016753:Interleukin-10; D018664:Interleukin-12; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma